Last Saturday, 21st January, was Squirrel Appreciation Day. Who knew? Not me, that’s for sure, until it was mentioned in passing on Winterwatch, the BBC’s seasonal wildlife programme. I think the presenter referred to it as Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, because – and let’s be brutally honest about this – nobody here gives much thought to grey squirrels. Reds, however, are an iconic species in the UK, universally loved and widely regarded as a national treasure.
Grey squirrels are everywhere, impossible to miss and, for some, difficult to love. Red squirrels, however, are altogether more elusive. Brownsea Island, located in Poole Harbour on the south coast, is one of the few places in England where a sighting of red squirrels is pretty much guaranteed. Also guaranteed, if you visit at the right time, is a sighting of Boy Scouts, a reflection of the island’s special place in the history of the scouting movement.
Background
The origins of Squirrel Appreciation Day lie in the USA. In 2001, wildlife rehabilitation specialist Christy Hargrove founded National Squirrel Appreciation Day in Asheville, North Carolina. Her aim was to encourage positive attitudes towards, and practical support for, her local squirrels. It’s perhaps ironic, therefore, that it is American squirrels that are responsible for the collapse of our own native red squirrel population.
It’s difficult to believe that here in the UK grey squirrels were once regarded as an exotic species. Some wealthy landowners thought it would be a great idea to brighten up their estates with wildlife superstars from across the Atlantic, and grey squirrels seemed like the ideal candidates. Adaptable, resourceful and tougher than the native reds, the greys soon began to out-compete them. Worse still, the greys were carriers of a disease – squirrel pox – which did them no harm, but was lethal to the reds.
The first recorded release of grey squirrels in the UK was in 1876, at Henbury Park in Cheshire. They thrived, as did other greys that were released elsewhere. Before long, the red squirrel population was in steep decline as greys spread rapidly across the country. Today, Brownsea Island, which is protected from a grey invasion by the waters of Poole Harbour, is one of only a couple of places in southern England where red squirrels still run wild.
Brownsea Island
Brownsea Island is tiny, just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide. It consists of around 500 acres (200 ha) of woodland and heathland, and a brackish lagoon. The island is owned by the National Trust, and much of it is actively managed for the benefit of nature. As well as squirrels, the island is home to a wide variety of bird species, including dunlin, kingfishers, common and sandwich terns and oystercatchers. A major conservation project is currently underway to improve habitats for wildlife, focussed on woodland management, heathland restoration and the removal of invasive plant species.
The island is also notable for having played an important part in the development of the International Scouting Movement. In August 1907 Robert Baden-Powell, its founder, held a week-long camp there to test out his ideas. The experiment was deemed a success, and the following year he published his seminal book Scouting for Boys, thereby kick-starting a ground-breaking organisation which thrives to this day.
Boy Scouts and Girl Guides continue to camp on the island, but none were evident when we took a trip out to Brownsea a few years ago. But that didn’t bother us, as the purpose of our visit was to go scouting for squirrels. We were not disappointed. The red squirrels for which Brownsea is justly famous were present in large numbers, and not at all camera-shy…I guess the feeders, well-stocked with tasty and nutritious nuts, probably had a lot to to with that. Mrs P snapped 335 pics of squirrels that day, some of which are featured in this post. Oh, the joys of digital photography!
Over the years we’ve been lucky to watch red squirrels in several parts of the UK where they are still gamely hanging on, but nowhere have we ever had such wonderful views as those we enjoyed that day on Brownsea Island. I think it’s probably time for a return visit!
Now I'm 64 
What beautiful pictures! How lovely to capture so many red squirrels. I have only seen them in Europe.
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Thank you. We were amazed too at the sheer number of squirrels, as well as about how unconcerned they were by all the tourists pointing cameras at them!
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Yes, great photographs! I have seen only one red squirrel locally since we came to live here over thirty years ago, something which saddens me. The National Botanic Gardens in Dublin is a good place to see them as they are practically tame there, certainly so if you offer peanuts!
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Thank you! Do you have grey squirrels in Ireland too?
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Yes, we do. Apparently introduced as a birthday gift for children in a house in the west of Ireland and, of course, they spread across the country afterwards.
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What a cute animal! We only have grey palm squirrels around us, though giant red squirrels are to be found in nearby forests.
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GIANT squirrels? That sounds like fun!
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Not like mastodons or something – don’t get too excited 😃
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😊😊😊
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Wonderful pictures! I love their tufted ears. Funny how the situation is different in Maine. Here, our red squirrels, a different variety, are the feisty aggressors and drive the gray squirrels away. Both are native, and we just let them sort things out. But best of luck to your red squirrels. Hope they are able to make a comeback.
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Thank you! Yes, we’ve seen red squirrels in the US, they seem less delicate than the European variety, and from recollection the colour is not quite as vibrant as ours. I guess they must be resistant to squirrel pox, which is a blessing. May both species flourish, both there and here.
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Yes, yes!
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Aw what lovely photos. 🙂
Red squirrels are such beauties aren’t they. The Grey squirrel introduction should never have happened of course they’ve been here for so long now, it’s hard for me to dislike the Grey’s. I live in a Grey area so it’s ok for me to say that. I do however have a caravan in the Eden Valley of Cumbria, where there are both reds and greys, which is difficult ! The island seems the perfect place for a thriving red Squirrel colony.
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Thank you. I share your view, and despite the impact they have on the Reds I would miss the Greys if they weren’t here. Amazingly (because we live in the middle of a housing estate) we’ve even seen Greys in our garden a few times. I think they must be seeking out well stocked bird tables!
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Kudos to Mrs. P for these wonderful images of a charismatic critter. It’s very sad that the Red Squirrels have suffered from the introduction of the Greys–another example of unintended consequences in the wake of an introduced species. I’m always happy when I get to see a Red Squirrel while visiting in Germany, but they are exceedingly shy and I have very few photographs. I hope you will enjoy your return visit to Brownsea Island.
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Mrs P sends you a BIG thank-you! Do you have Grey Squirrels in Germany too, or is it just the Reds?
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I think the situation in Germany is similar to yours, where the Grey Squirrels are outcompeting the Red.
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The first thing I saw following my arrival in London 15 years ago was squirrels frolicking in an old graveyard at sunset. I have never forgotten ….
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They’re endearing, feisty animals, I think, always on the go. I’m glad you got to see some here.
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